Meet Joe Benevento, CEO of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation

Joe Benevento is Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation.

VIPC drives impact by equipping entrepreneurs, researchers, and ecosystem partners with critical funding, expertise, and connections. From seed-stage investment and research commercialization grants to statewide networks and public-private partnerships, VIPC builds the infrastructure that allows innovation to thrive across the Commonwealth.

VIPC is the operating nonprofit of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority (VIPA). VIPC provides funding for startups, universities, investment fund managers, and entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs). Strategic initiatives include:

• The Virginia Unmanned Systems (UxS) Center
• Public Safety Innovation Center (PSIC)
• Virginia Smart Community Testbed
• Regional Innovation Fund (RIF)
• Virginia Accelerator Network (VAN)

Virginia Invests is also a VIPC-led initiative that expands investment and growth opportunities for Virginia-based, innovation-driven startups and entrepreneurial ecosystems throughout the Commonwealth. The investment program is designed to accelerate capital invested, from both in-state and out-of-state fund managers, into Virginia startups, particularly those with female, black, Hispanic, Veteran, and/or rural-based founders. Virginia Invests is managed by VVP and underwritten by the U.S. Treasury Department’s SSBCI program. https://vipc.org/initiatives/

The Discussion. This series of hybrid events is perfect for budding entrepreneurs, experienced executive mentors cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset, early-stage investors, and students exploring innovative product design.

At each session, business founders serve as guest speakers share about their career, their firm's business model, as well as the successes and challenges in the product development process. Participants learn from the speakers’ experiences, discuss valuable insights, and connect with other entrepreneurs, students, faculty, and investors.

Logistics. A light lunch is served, as entrepreneurs connect with one another, learn from peers, and contribute to the conversation:

• Friday, November 7th
• 11:30am EST - Coffee & Connection
• 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST - Presentation & Discussion

No pre-registration is required. Join us:
Robins School of Business

102 UR Drive, iLab Room 123
University of Richmond, VA 23173

Parking. Free parking is available in the U5 and U6 lots immediately adjacent to the Robins School. Please enter the main foyer, turn to the left and proceed to room 123 (EY Innovation Lab) on the ground floor.
Please note that visitors have a two-hour parking window.
Please sign in when you enter the room, providing your license plate number.

On Zoom Webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83836020707